Jackals will often follow lions and other big cats to scavenge their kills.

Life span
Side-striped jackals live for 12-14 years in captivity.

Statistics
Body length: 65-106cm, Tail length: 30-35cm, Standing height: 45-50cm, Weight: 8-15kg.

Physical description
Side-striped jackals are grey with dark stripes on the flanks and a white tip on the tail.

Distribution
They range from Senegal to Somalia, and south to northern Namibia and eastern South Africa.

Habitat
Side-striped jackals inhabit open country.

Diet
They feed on small mammals, insects and fruit.

Behaviour
Side-srtiped jackals live together in pairs, but often hunt in family troops. They are nocturnal.

Reproduction
Females have a gestation period of nine weeks, after which they give birth to 3-6 pups. They weigh 200-250g at birth.

Conservation status
Side-striped jackals are not listed by the IUCN Red List. They are considered a serious predator of sheep and are therefore intensively hunted and poisoned.